The world views India as an enormous source of talent, which includes CEOs, mid-level executives, and new hires. In addition to providing a wealth of talent to international economies, Indian CEOs are well-known for the high salaries they receive. Sandeep Kalra of Persistent Systems, the highest-paid Indian IT CEO, made headlines recently.

Similarly, corporate India continues to lavishly compensate its top executives to which a number of CEOs received hefty paychecks this year. These leaders, who often use performance-based stock incentives, have propelled impressive growth in industries ranging from IT, automotive to pharmaceuticals and more. Let's explore the achievements, leadership, and astounding compensation packages of the top CEOs in India for 2025 in the profiles that are listed below.

Sandeep Kalra, CEO & Executive Director, Persistent Systems

The CEO and Executive Director of Persistent Systems, Sandeep Kalra, helped the company surpass $1 billion in revenue. In FY25, he earned around Rs.150 crore, the most of any listed Indian IT company that has yet to publish its annual report. A fantastic stock boom, with shares rising 75 percent in 2024 after a 91 percent spike in 2023, helped him get paid.

90 percent of Kalra's total compensation, which increased by 93 percent to Rs.148 crore in FY25, came from the fair value of stock options that were exercised during that time.

Persistent Systems also contributes to his compensation. According to the company's most recent annual report, his core compensation, excluding benefits and other components, was Rs.15.62 crore.

After 20 straight quarters of growth, Persistent Systems' net profit climbed 25percent to $166 million in FY25 on $1.4 billion in revenue.

Revenue increased by 19 percent annually and has compounded at a rate of 26 percent over the last four years.

In FY25, the company's EBIT margin increased from 14.4 percent to 14.7 percent. By FY27, it wants to reach $2 billion in revenue and increase margins by 200–300 basis points.

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Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Managing Director and CEO - Hero MotoCorp

In FY25, Pawan Munjal, the chairman and managing director of Hero MotoCorp, continued to be the highest-paid CEO in the automotive industry. Like in FY24, his total compensation was Rs 109.41 crore. The breakdown of his compensation varied, but the headline sum remained the same. Although his commission payout doubled, his base pay, benefits, and retirals remained the same.

Hero MotoCorp reported a 16 percent increase in profit and a nine percent growth in revenue during the fiscal year, which made Munjal's earnings less noteworthy in comparison, even if there was no change in salary. 

Hero MotoCorp has sold more than 100 million units, setting records under Munjal's direction. Munjal led the company's international growth, setting up plants in Bangladesh and Colombia and increasing its footprint to 40 nations. Munjal is still dedicated to the company's financial prudence in spite of his success. Although his overall compensation in FY24 exceeded Rs 100 crore, he willingly accepted a 20 percent pay and commission decrease that took effect on January 1, 2024. To maintain the company's financial stability and meet shareholder expectations, this choice was made.

Hero MotoCorp's mission statement from Pawan Munjal extends beyond motorcycles.

In addition to securing the company's market leadership, his leadership has guaranteed Hero Future Energies' dedication to sustainable energy solutions.

 

C Vijayakumar, CEO & Managing Director, HCLTech

For the fiscal year that concluded on March 31, 2025, C Vijayakumar, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of HCLTech, was paid $10.85 million (about Rs 94.6 crore), according to the company's annual report. He now earns more than the CEOs of the bigger rivals Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and Wipro, making him the highest-paid CEO among India's leading IT companies.

The board has also authorized a 71 percent increase in Vijayakumar's compensation, bringing his yearly pay to $18.6 million (Rs 154 crore) for the fiscal year 2025–2026, according to HCLTech's FY25 annual report. The board has recognized his "successful and long-tenured leadership," and the revised structure will go into effect on April 1, 2025.

Vijayakumar, who was appointed CEO in 2016, is recognized for having led HCLTech's international growth and revenue diversification. The company's market capitalization increased by 3.8 times during his direction, from Rs 1.15 lakh crore in FY16 to Rs 4.32 lakh crore in FY25. According to the company's study, this surpasses the 2.5x market cap growth average for the top five listed IT services companies in India for the same time frame.

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HCLTech is confident about its future prospects despite a decline in profits. For the quarter ended June 2025, the company's consolidated net profit dropped 9.7 percent to Rs 3,843 crore due to higher expenses and a one-time charge associated with a client's bankruptcy. Citing robust transaction pipelines, HCLTech increased the lower end of its full-year revenue growth expectation from 2 to 5 percent to 3 to 5 percent.

Nithin Kamath, Founder & CEO, Zerodha

For the fiscal year 2023, Nithin Kamath, the founder and CEO of Rainmatter or Zerodha, received Rs.72 crore. Nithin is now at the forefront of the financial services industry thanks to its most recent revolutionary solutions, which have helped many users to alter the way they manage their portfolios and invest in India.

In a nation where the stock market was formerly controlled by conventional brokerage businesses, Nithin Kamath became a trailblazer who transformed how Indians conducted stock market transactions. Nithin's creative strategy for simplifying trading for the typical investor and a focus on customer education set Zerodha apart from its rivals right away. In order to further solidify its position as a leader in the sectors in which it works, the company gradually increased the range of financial services it offered to include mutual funds, bonds, commodities, and much more.

In the Indian startup scene, Nithin has become a thought leader, promoting increased financial market openness and a more inclusive investing strategy. Aspiring business owners look up to him because of his significant contributions to enhancing financial literacy and common Indians' access to the stock market.